Go-cart.



R. C. ROBNsoN.

GO-CART.

APPLIUATIQN FILED we z, 1909.

, Pantea'June 14,1910.-

' i @up ANDREW a GRAHAM Co. PHOTQMTHUGRAFMERS wAsmNm'on, n. c z

R. C. ROBINSGN.

GO-GART.

APPLIGATION FILED 11119.25, 1909.

961,163. Patented June 14,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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, wcm/111135 vexact details shown and described, still for RALPH C.ROBINSON, OF BOISE, IDAHO.

Gro-CART.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led August 25, 1909.

Patented Julie 14, 1910. serial No. 514,590.

' go-carts of the type known as folding gocarts.

The objects and advantages of the particular construction appear fromthe following description, and the particular features of novelty willbe more succinctly pointed out in the claims.

While the invention is not limited to the the purpose of disclosurereference is had to the accompanying drawings illustrating a practicalembodiment of the invention, in which like characters designate the sameparts in the several views, and in which- Figure 1 is a view in sideelevation showing my invention applied to a go-cart. Fig. 2 is a detailperspective view of one of the supporting springs.v Fig. 3 is a detailview in side elevation of the angle plates with the springs connectedthereto and showing the curved vertical slot for adjusting the angleplate vertically. Fig. 4 is a detail view 1n side elevation showing amodified arrangement of the spring supports, and Fig. 5 is a similarview to Fig. 4 showing a further modication.

1 designates the gear rail of a folding gocart provided with the usualframework 2 on each side of the longitudinal gear rails, and providedwith wheels adapted to be folded beneath the gear rail.

3 designates the body of the go-cart supported at its back by thehandles 4, and also supported by the stay rod 5 having a breakable joint6, 7 designating a folding top pivoted on the stay rod 5.

So far the construction is substantially similar to go-carts already inuse, and in adapting my invention to this style of vehicles, instead ofpivoting the handle 4 to the gear rails, I pivotally connect the lowerends of the handles with spring operating supports. In Figs. 1 to 3these supports are illustrated as simply consisting of fiat elongatedsprings 9 located on each side of the vehicle .frame and pivotallyconnected to the handles, as at 8. The other ends of the springs 9 aresecured to the gear rail by means of suitable connections, and thesesprings may be either on the outside or the inside of the gear rails,although on the drawings I have shown them on the outside.

The inner ends of the springs may be secured to the gear rails in anysuitable way, and the simple method of doing this is shown in Figs. 1 to3 where angle plates 10 are provided on each side of the gear rail andthe inner ends of the springs rest on the horizontal webs of these angleplates and may be securely bolted thereto. In these figures I have shownthe inner ends of the springs as being provided with slots l1, thehorizontal webs of the angle plates being provided with bolt holes 12through which are passed the short bolts 13, and by this constructionthe spring may be readily attached to the angle plate and the spring maybe lengthened or shortened by the bolt and slot connection. In thisconstruction the angle plate is bolted at one end to the gear railthrough the bolt hole 14, and at its other end is provided with avertical slot 15 cooperating with a locking bolt 16, the slot 15 beingcurved in an arc having 14 as its center, so that the angle plates canbe adjusted vertically a limited distance.

In Fig. 4 the arrangement is substantially the same, although a littledifferent form of spring support is employed. In this 00nstruction theangle plate 10EL is disposed with its horizontal web in an upperposition, and on this horizontal web is bolted the spring 9'Cl which maybe provided with one or more spirals 16a and terminating in a threadedbolt arm 17 directed rearwardly and provided with suitable locking nuts18, the threaded bolt arni being adapted to pass through apertured lugs19 carried at the inner end of the spring supported arms 20, whichlatter at their free ends are pivotally connected to the handle of thegO-cart, as at 8a.

In Fig. 5 the angle plates 10b have their horizontal web in a lowerniostposition, as in Fig. 1, and to this web is bolted the flat spring 9b therear end of which curves upwardly and supports the arm 20a pivotallyconnected at its forward end, as at 20, to

the gear rail or angle plate, and at its rear end pivotally connected,as at 8b, to the handle of the go-cart.

In Figs. 4 and 5 it will be apparent that the angle plates may beprovided with vertical slots, as at 15 in Fig. 3, in order that theplates may be adjusted vertically a limi ited distance if desired.r;`his vertical adjustment permits the springs to be adapted to theincreasing weight ot the child occupying the go-cart, and by the boltand slot connections l1, l2 and 13 in Figs. l to 3, and by the threadedbolt arm arrangement in Fig. 4 the effective length of the spring may beincreased or decreased by adjustment to increase or decrease theresiliency of the spring if this is desired.

I am aware of the fact that it has been known to provide baby carriageswith springs of various characters, and also I am aware of the fact thatsprings have been appliedV to the style of vehicles known as go-carts,but by the present particular arrangement and the disposition of thesprings, or the spring supports, and' their pivotal connection at oneend, directly with the handles of the go-cart, there is provided meanswhereby any sudden jolts or jars are absorbed, and at the same timepermitting the body of the carriage to be resiliently mounted to providecomfort for the occupant. Another advantageous feature of thisparticular mounting of the springs is that the lower ends of the handlebeing pivotally' supported directly by spring supports, the attendantpushing the go-cart will have more control over the springing motion ofthe body portion, as will be evident.

Having now described thel invention, what I claim is l. The combinationwith the running gear, of a spring support secured at one end to saidrunning gear, a handle pivotally supported by the other end of saidspring support, stay rods connected to said running gear at one end andpivotally connected to said handle at their other ends, and a bodysupported by said stay rods, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a running gear provided with gear rails, a springsupport adjustably mounted at one end on said gear rails, a handlepivotally connected at its lower end to the other end of said springsupport, stay rods connected at one end to said running gear and attheir other ends pivotally connected to said handle, and a bodysupported by said stay rods, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a running gear provided with gear rails, a pair ofspring supports each being secured at one end to one of said gear rails,a handle pivotally supported at its lower ends by the other ends of saidspring supports, stay rods secured at one of their ends to said runninggear and at their other ends pivotally connected to said handle, and abody portion supported by said stay rods and handle, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a go-cart the combination of a running gear, provided with gearrails, a pair of elongated springs each adj-ustably connected at one endto said gear rails, a handle pivotally supported at its lower ends bythe other ends of said springs, stay rods connected at one end to saidgear rails and at their other ends pivotally connected to said handle,and a body portion supported by said stay rods and said handle,substantially as described.

5. The combination of a ruiming gear provided with gear rails at eachside ot the top thereof, angle plate members pivotally secured to saidgear rails, elongated spring members supported at one end by thehorizontal webs of said angle plate members, slots being provided in oneset of members cooperating` with securing bolts to adjust the relativelength of said spring members, and a vertical slot being provided in thevertical web of said angle plate members to dle pivotally supported atits lower end by the free end of said spring members, stay rods securedat one end tov said running gear and at their other ends pivotallyconnected to said handle, and a body portion support, ed by said stayrods and said handle, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I aiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

RALPH C. ROBINSON. lVitnesses WVM. C. DUNBAR, S. E. BLAINE.

permit of their vertical adjustment, a han-

